The results of Riverside County’s single day point-in-time count of homeless people are in. The data shows few surprises for Palm Springs.
Looking back: Volunteers fanned out across the county, including in Palm Springs, on January 25. Their task was to count how many people were living on on the streets during one period of one day. Results that released this week are used to help determine the county’s allotment of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funding.
By the numbers: Throughout Riverside County, 12% more unhoused residents — including those who were sheltered but had no permanent residence — were counted compared to 2022. An estimated 3,725 people were found to be chronically homeless in the county, including 1,049 in the Coachella Valley’s nine cities.
- In Palm Springs, 239 people were found to be living on the streets that day — an 8% increase over last year’s number. That’s second only to Riverside, which had 605. In both Desert Hot Springs and Indio, just over 100 people were counted living outside.
Details: Also included in the report was a breakdown of the county’s unhoused resident by subcategory. That data shows:
- The number of homeless veterans was up 31% year-over-year;
- Unhoused households with children were up 12%;
- The number of homeless youth ages 18-24 was down 27%;
- Unhoused seniors ages 62 and up increased 6%; and
- 21% of unsheltered people were new to homelessness.
Next steps: Results of the count will be discussed at an upcoming Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting, as will current efforts to address the issue. Among the efforts in Palm Springs:
- The city and county are partnering to build a navigation center to provide temporary housing and other resources to homeless residents;
- Martha’s Village and Kitchen will operate an overnight shelter during the summer months, and in February; and
- The Palm Springs Police Department launched Operation Relentless Sun, an initiative to more strictly enforce laws for homeless individuals engaging in criminal activity.
